Access is everything at the Democratic National Convention for K Streeters.

But now a ban on corporate and lobbyist donations — which used to come with tickets to official convention events, hotel suites and other opportunitites to schmooze with Democrats — is trying to limit Big Business’s involvement in the biggest party of the year.

The rules announced last year by the Democratic National Committee forbid the 2012 convention in Charlotte, N.C., from accepting cash from corporations or registered lobbyists, and would cap individual contributions at $100,000. The limits are an outgrowth of the Obama administration’s push to restrict lobbyist and private sector influence on government.

In 2008, the convention raised more than $50 million drawing largely from wealthy donors and corporate contributions.

Already, eight months out, K Street is scrambling to overcome the new restrictions. Hired guns and in-house corporate execs are plotting ways around the new rules to make sure they’ll have a prime opportunity to mingle with party operatives and sherpa senior executives into official convention activities.

“The Democrats have made it inconvenient for corporations to donate to the convention but not impossible,” said Kenneth Gross, a veteran ethics lawyer at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

Several K Streeters said, rest assured, they will make the most of the event — even if it means a night at the Super 8 Motel instead of the Four Seasons.

That’s a stark contrast from traditional practice at national conventions, where corporations could cut big checks with the expectation that in exchange they’d get perks like hotel rooms, access to key social events and other benefits.

In 2008, the highest level donors — those contributing at least $1 million — got VIP access and credentials to the convention center for events, first consideration to reserve premier venue space for corporate hospitality events, entrée to private events with elected Colorado officials and the members of the executive committee and invitations to all host committee-sponsored events, according to a Denver sponsorship packet. Companies also received recognition in host committee publications, logo placement on the official host committee website and other sponsorship opportunities for delegate gift bags and prominent banner placement in the city or corporate logo on hotel key cards for multiple hotels.

The Republican National Committee has not implemented any limits on lobbyists and corporate donors.

Some lobbyists say they’re looking for ways to get convention access and boost the party despite the new hurdles, although many are grumbling about the challenges.

“I would guess there are going to be companies that figure out, ‘Okay, there’s no real way we’re going to be able to get around the limitation on corporate funding conventions, so what we’ll do is we will just get a block of rooms or condos somewhere near downtown and we’ll pay for that,’” one Democratic lobbyist said. “And then, if there’s a way that our executives or Washington folks can get access to credentials through whatever means, well, we’ll just leave them to figure out what those channels might be.”

Others are threatening to stay home and withhold their help, which makes convention planners worry.

“The rules limit access to what is supposed to be a democratic process. So people who have to be there and want to be a part of the movement are creating work-arounds to make it happen. Hopefully we will reach a critical mass,” said convention consultant LeeAnn Petersen of Conventions 2012. “Right now, operatives are concerned that nobody is actually going to go. That it’s just too complicated.”

Not all avenues for making known corporate support for the convention have been thwarted.

Corporations can still make in-kind donations and are expected to offer telecom services, hardware, vehicles and other products. Businesses are still expected to host a plethora of offsite parties that aren’t bound by convention rules. And the heads of big corporations are being asked to cut checks under the $100,000 limit.

“All of our execs are still being hit up in a major way to contribute,” said another Democratic lobbyist with close ties to the national party.

The host committee in Charlotte also maintains an account to fund certain convention-related services, such as the press and delegate parties, that accepts corporate donations.

“We are not imposing those restrictions on ourselves in order to promote the city,” host committee spokeswoman Suzi Emmerling said, noting that the committee is working closely with local arts, tourist board and Chamber of Commerce.

Ethics lawyer Gross said that this fund — called the New American City — will also create an opportunity for donors to get access.

“When the convention committee doles out credentials to attend the convention, those donors will get their share,” he added.

Emmerling disputed that assessment. “Gross’s speculation is inaccurate,” she said.

While some K Streeters are looking for ways to boost the effort, others said it is a convenient excuse to sit on the sidelines as corporate budgets for the conventions have shrunk.

Another Democratic lobbyist who has worked at past conventions is planning to sit out this one.

“Talking to a lot of people in corporate offices and just lobbyists in general, I think you’re going to see a lot of people stay away,” that person said. “Even if they go, their level of participation is going to be way down.”

Difficulty lining up hotel rooms, in particular, is rubbing some lobbyists the wrong way.

“In the past, it was always part of the package if you did X, Y or Z,” said the lobbyist with close ties to the party.

Now, lobbyists are discussing renting houses and “bunking together with a bunch of your folks, and it’s not ideal, but it’s life,” that person said.

Even without the added challenges of getting access to official events, several veteran convention-goers said they expect the crowd to be smaller than Denver 2008, which was seen as a historic event by many longtime party players, such as labor unions. There is also less pressure for K Streeters to make an appearance at the 2012 convention than there was at the 2008 Democratic convention in Denver, because the administration is now a known quantity.

“I think overall, sort of the urgency to participate in a very visible way is much different right now compared to where we were four years ago,” said the lobbyist with close ties to the party.

But even lobbyists who complain about the new restrictions say fundraisers will come up with the $37 million goal they have for the convention and that the parties won’t stop.

“People can stomp their feet and hold their breath and maybe not like the fact that a registered lobbyist is being treated differently, but the convention will go off and the convention will be a success,” said the lobbyist, who has worked past conventions.